I-95 North Shut Down After FHP Trooper-Involved Accident
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Northbound Interstate 95 was shut down at the peak of rush hour Friday night after an FHP cruiser and several other vehicles collided on the highway.
Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue said the accident occurred in the northbound lanes of I-95 north of Commercial Boulevard just after 5 p.m.
Officials say the trooper was injured and had to be airlifted from the scene to Broward Health Medical Center.
"Amazing that she survived. It really is amazing because that car was totally demolished," said Mark Wysocky of the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to FHP, the trooper pulled over into the median lane to investigate a three vehicle crash and was in her car when a pickup truck slammed into it. Wysocky says witnesses report the pickup was traveling at a high rate of speed and pushed the trooper's car into the other vehicles.
"The farthest vehicle away from her then veered across the northbound lanes of 95 and came to rest on the right shoulder," Wysocky explained.
The scene stretched across the interstate leaving a trail of metal and glass and shutting the road down for hours as investigators worked to determine how fast the pickup was going, whether the driver was impaired, and why he was driving in the median lane. All lanes of the highway were shut down and traffic was diverted off the roadway at Sunrise Boulevard.
The trooper, who has been with FHP for three years, was not identified. She was listed in serious but stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Troopers say charges are pending against the driver of the pickup who suffered serious injuries.
